Species

Thelymitra aemula

Etymology

Thelymitra: woman's hataemula: rival

Common Name(s)

Gumland Sun Orchid

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Thelymitra aemula Cheeseman

Family

Orchidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

THEAEM

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. North Island from Te Paki to about the northern Waikato

Habitat

Favouring open clay pans, gumland scrub, or sparsely vegetated slopes in site where there once was, or still is kauri (Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl.) forest. It may also colonise grassy verges along roadsides traversing kauri forest remnants and gumland scrub. This species responds well to periodic burning provided of course the former habitat had few or no fire-adapted weed species.

Similar Taxa

Most likely to be confused with Thelymitra ixioides Sw., and T. tholiformis Molloy et Hatch, species with which it often grows. It differs from T. ixioides by its smooth rather than finely rugose leaf undersides; consistently unspotted flowers; yellow, denticulate, rather than purple, orange or reddish jagged post anther lobe furnished with numerous finger-like calli; and low forward pointing yellow, rather than high, erect, fleshy jagged purple or reddish yellow side lobes. From T. tholiformis it differs by its erect, non-hooded rather than tall, domed post anther lobe; presence of side lobes; and column arms bearing, thin brush-like rather than dense, globose cilia.

Flowering

November - February

Flower Colours

Blue,Violet / Purple

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Difficult - should not be moved from the wild as it is strongly mycorrhizal and soon dies if moved from its habit.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 40

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available

Taxonomic notes

This species was included by Moore & Edgar (1970) in Thelymitra ixioides.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007. Description subsequently published in Rolfe & de Lange (2010).